Thousands in Portugal protest austerity measures as government eyes further cuts

Demonstrators react during speeches at the end of an anti-austerity protest march in Lisbon Saturday, Feb. 16 2013. The protest was called by CGTP, the Portuguese confederation of workers unions. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
(The Associated Press)

A demonstrator carries a photo of Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho with the label "thief" during an anti-austerity protest march in Lisbon Saturday, Feb. 16 2013. The protest was called by CGTP, the Portuguese confederation of workers unions. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
(The Associated Press)

A woman holds a red carnation and a leaflet with the words "national shame" during an anti-austerity protest march in Lisbon Saturday, Feb. 16 2013. The red carnation is the symbol of the April 25 1974 revolution that restored democracy in Portugal. The protest was called by CGTP, the Portuguese confederation of workers unions. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
(The Associated Press)

LISBON, Portugal – Several thousand people are protesting in Lisbon against austerity cuts the government says are needed to help Portugal out of recession.

The nation is heading for a third straight year of negative growth, and protesters are worried more pain is heading their way as the government tries to make more savings.

One of Saturday's protesters, 71-year-old Jorge Silva, said the elderly are seeing nearly constant deterioration of their living conditions, including difficulty buying medicine "because they don't have money."

Portugal was the third country, after Greece and Ireland, to fall into the eurozone's financial crisis and required a €78 billion lifeline in May 2011 to avert bankruptcy.

Austerity cuts, particularly to health care services and public education, have triggered many strikes and street protests.